Carousel material handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

The material handling apparatus is disclosed comprising a plurality of storage bins and a continuous pathway. The pathway includes spaced apart linear pathway segments joined by arcuate end segments. The bins are supported on the pathway to move about the pathway in a predetermined desired direction. Each of the bins is hingedly connected to one another to define a continuous chain of hingedly connected bins. A drive mechanism is provided to independently drive each of the bins with the drive means operable only when the hinge connector members of the bins are disposed in a linear pathway segement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to a carousel material handling apparatus andmore particularly to such an apparatus particularly suitable forhandling heavy loads.

II. Description of the Prior Art

Carousel material handling systems are well known. Such systems includea plurality of bins which are mounted to travel in a generally ovalpath. The bins are disposed in an upright position and hold material tobe stored for later retrieval. Examples of such systems are shown inU.S. Pat. No. 3,780,852 to Weiss, et al. as well as Catalog No. A-570-R2of White Consolidated Industries, Inc. (Copyright 1985) and a brochureof Raymond Corporation entitled "Carousel Drive System" and bearingcopyright data 1985. As shown in all of these systems, a plurality ofbins are supported for movement around a continuous pathway. The pathwayincludes both spaced-apart linear segments joined by arcuate endsegments.

As the capacity of a material handling system increases (i.e. the weightof the material to be handled by the system increases), the prior artsystems have demonstrated an inability to handle significantly increasedloads. I have determined that a novel drive and pathway arrangement cansurprisingly improve the capacity of a carousel material handlingsystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a carouselmaterial handling apparatus is described and includes a plurality ofstorage bins. The bins are disposed on a continuous pathway. The pathwayincludes first and second spaced apart pathway segments. The firstarcuate pathway segment joins first ends of the linear pathway segmentsand the second arcuate pathway segment joins the second ends of thelinear pathway segments. The linear arcuate pathway segments cooperateto define a continuous pathway. The bins are supported for each of thebins to move about the pathway. Hinged connector elements are disposedfor hingedly connecting contiguous bins to define a continuous chain ofhingedly connected bins disposed on the pathway. Drive means areassociated with a plurality of the bins to independently urge each oneof the plurality to move in a predetermined common direction along thecontinuous pathway. A drive engagement apparatus is disclosed foroperating the drive means of any one of the plurality of bins only whenthe connecting members of the bin are disposed on a linear pathwaysegment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a schematic representation of a materialhandling apparatus according to the present;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a schematic representation of the materialhandling system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in elevation of a section of a bin of thematerial handling apparatus of the present invention schematicallyshowing drive means;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing bins partly moved about thepathway; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken in elevation schematically showing hingeconnection members and support casters of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the several figures in which identical elements arenumbered identically throughout, the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to a preferred embodiment. In each of FIGS. 1through 4, the material handling apparatus of the present invention andits associated elements are schematically shown. The apparatus 10includes a plurality of storage bins 12 through 12i. Each of bins 12 hasa vertical axis disposed in the direction of arrow A (shown in FIG. 1).The bins may be stacked shelves or crates or any other storagearrangement for holding and carrying material. Examples of such bins areshown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,852 and theaforementioned Catalog No. A-570-R2 of White Consolidated Industries.

The bins 12 through 12i are disposed on a pathway 14. As shown mostclearly in FIG. 2, pathway 14 includes a first linear pathway segment 16and a second linear pathway segment 18. Segments 16 and 18 are parallelaligned and spaced apart and extend from first ends 16a and 18a tosecond ends 16b and 18b (shown best in FIGS. 2 and 4). The pathway 14also includes a first arcuate pathway segment 20 and a second arcuatepathway segment 22. First arcuate pathway segment 20 joins first end 16aand 18a and second arcuate pathway segment 22 joins second ends 16b and18b. Accordingly, linear segments 16 and 18 and arcuate segments 20 and22 cooperate to define a continuous pathway 14.

The bins 12-12i are disposed on the pathway 14 to move about pathway 14in a both clockwise and counterclockwise directions as shown in FIG. 1by Arrows B. Means for mounting a plurality of bins on a pathway such aspathway 14 are well known in the art (examples of which are shown in theaforementioned paten application and catalogs). In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, each of the bins 12-12i willinclude inner opposing faces 30-30i. Abutting faces 30-30i of contiguousbins 12-12i are hingedly connected at hinge points 40-40i.

The hinge connections are shown schematically in FIG. 4 and include aplurality of hinge pins such as pins 41 and 41a disposed on oppositeends of bins 12. Pins 41 and 41a rotate freely with respect to the bins12 about a vertical axis.

Disposed beneath each of pins 41 and 41a is a caster housings 42, 42awhich houses a caster wheel 44, 44a. Likewise, each of caster housings42 and 42a includes a mounting plate 43, 43a on which is disposed aplurality of rollers 45, 45a, 46, 46a. Wheels 44 and 44a are disposed torotate about a generally horizontal axis while wheels 45, 45a, 46, 46are disposed to rotate about a vertical axis.

Pathway 14 is defined by an inner track system 50 and an outer tracksystem 52. Inner track 50 comprises a pair of rails 60 and 62 (shown inFIG. 5) with rail 60 disposed to engage wheels 44, 44a and rail 62disposed to abut wheels 45, 45a and 46, 46a. Accordingly, rail 60carries the load of the bins and rail 62 takes up thrust of the bins tomaintain movement of the bins along the generally oval pathway. It willbe appreciated that casters, hinge connections and rail constructionsare well within the skill of the art and are schematically shown forillustration purposes only.

Each of bins 12-12i includes a motor and drive wheel system 70-70i.Shown best in FIG. 3 which is a schematic representation of bin 12,motor system 70 includes a motor 72 and a drive wheel 73. Drive wheel 73is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and is drivenby motor 72 to rotate about that axis in either direction as indicatedby arrow C.

A pair of drive rails 80 and 82 are associated with first linear segment16 and second linear pathway segment 18, respectively. Drive rails 80and 82 are disposed to engage the drive wheel 73-73i of a bin 12-12isituated over drive rails 80 and 82. Drive rails 80 and 82 arepositioned and provided with a length such that wheels 73-73i onlyengage the rails 80, 82 when both hinge pins 40-40i of any bin 12-12iare on a linear path segment. When a bin's hinge pins are disposed off alinear path segment and on one of the arcuate path segments, the wheels73 are spaced from the rails 80 and 82. With the wheel 73 therebyspaced, the wheels do not act to drive the particular bin. As shown inFIG. 3, the rails, such as rail 80, includes arcuate downwardly bentends 81 against which a drive wheel such as wheel 73 engages ordisengages as the drive system 70 encounters the rail 80.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner track 50 of pathway 14 on arcuatesegments 20 and 22 is a half segment of an ellipse with a line joiningthe ends 16a, 18a and 16b, 18b constituting the major axis D of theellipse. The length of D is the same distance as the distance betweenhinge pins (such as pins 40 and 40i) of a given bin (such as bin 12).Drive rails 80 and 82 and wheels 73-73i are disposed above the pathway14 to avoid interference of wheels 73-73i with the elliptical innertrack 52 as a bin (such as bin 12i in FIG. 2) passes the arcuatesegments.

The outer track 52 of pathway 14 is a line defined by movement of afixed point (such as point D) along a besecting line (such as line E) ofa bin. At that point, the bins 12-12a are preferably provided with acaster such as those shown in FIG. 4 which can engage the rails of track52.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the outer track 52 is generally straight onlinear pathways 16 and 18 except for the extreme ends of the pathways16, 18. At the ends, the track 52 curves to reflect the natural path apoint, such as point P in FIG. 2, would follow if a bin moves around thepathway 14 with its casters 44-44i following inner track 50 through thehalf ellipses at arcuate segments 20, 22.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the plurality ofhingedly connected bins define a continuous chain disposed on thepathway. The pitch of the chain is the distance between contiguous hingeconnections 40-40i. Those bins whose hinge pins are located on thelinear pathways (such as bins 12-12c and 12-12h in FIG. 2 and 12-12b and12e-12g in FIG. 4) are being driven in a common direction (such as thedirection of arrow F). (Alternatively, all bins could be driven in theopposite direction. It will be appreciated, of course, all bins must bedriven in a common direction).

The novel arrangement of the present invention provides for numerousadvantages. Since each bin has its independent motor system, each bincan carry a substantially load. Also, the motor system of each of thebins cooperates with one another to drive the entire bin chain. Forexample, those bins whose motor systems are engaging rail 80 are pullingthe entire chain while those bins whose motor system are engaging rail82 are pushing the chain. The bins which are not located on linear pathsegments are not actively pushing or pulling to thereby avoid binding ofthe chain as it travels around the arcuate end segments.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention hasbeen shown how the invention has been attained in a preferred manner.However, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts, suchas readily occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be includedin the scope of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention isintended to be limited only by the scope of the claims as are, or mayhereafter be, appended hereto.

I claim:
 1. A carousel material handling apparatus comprising:a plurality of storage bins; a first and second generally linear spaced apart pathway segment each extending between first and second ends, first and second arcuate pathway segments, said first arcuate pathway segment joining first ends of said linear pathway segments and said second arcuate pathway segment joining second ends of said linear pathway segments, said first and second linear pathway segments and said first and second arcuate pathway segments cooperating to define a continuous pathway; bin support means for supporting each of said bins to move about said continuous pathway with said bins disposed in side-by-side relation to define contiguous bins; connecting means for hingedly connecting contiguous bins to define a continuous chain of hingedly connected bins disposed on said pathway; drive means associated with a plurality of said bins to independently urge each one of said plurality of bins to move in a predetermined common direction around said continuous pathway; and drive engagement means for operating said drive means by any one of said plurality of bins to urge said any one of said plurality of bins to move in said predetermined common direction when said any one of said plurality of bins is disposed on one of said linear pathway segments and said drive engagement means further selected for said drive means not to be urging said any one of said plurality of bins to move in said predetermined common direction when said any one of plurality of bins is disposed on one of said arcuate pathway segments.
 2. A carousel material handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive engagement means is selected to operate said drive means of said any one of said plurality of bins when said connecting means of said any one of said plurality of bins is disposed on one of said linear pathway segments.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a motor associated with each one of said plurality of said bins; said drive engagement means comprising a wheel and cooperating rail, said wheel driven by said motor, said rail disposed adjacent a linear pathway segment and dimensioned for a wheel of a bin to engage said rail when connecting means of said bin are disposed on said linear pathway segment.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arcuate segment includes an inner track, said inner track comprising a segment of an ellipse.
 5. A carousel material handling apparatus comprising:a plurality of storage bins; first and second generally linear spaced apart pathway segments each extending between first and second ends, first and second arcuate pathway segments, said first arcuate pathway segment joining first ends of said linear pathway segments and said second arcuate pathway segment joining second ends of said linear pathway segments, said first and second linear pathway segments and said first and second arcuate pathway segments cooperating to define a continuous pathway; bin support means for supporting each of said bins to move about said continuous pathway with said bins disposed in side-by-side relation to define contiguous bins; connecting means for hingedly connecting contiguous bins to define a continuous chain of hingedly connected bins disposed on said pathway; and drive motors disposed associated with each of said bins with means for each of said motors to be independently operated to urge any one of said bins to move in a predetermined desired direction when said any one of said bins is disposed on a linear pathway segment and said means further selected for each of said motors not to urge said any one of said bins in said predetermined desired direction when said any of said bins is disposed on an arcuate pathway segment.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of hinge points connecting contiguous bins with a distance between hinge points being equal for all bins.
 7. A carousel material handling apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for each of said motors to be independently operated is selected to urge said any one of said bins to move in said predetermined desired direction when connecting means of said bin is disposed on a linear pathway segment. .Iadd.
 8. A carrousel material handling apparatus comprising:a plurality of storage bins; first and second generally linear spaced apart pathway segments each extending between first and second ends, first and second arcuate pathway segments, said first arcuate pathway segment joining said first ends of said linear pathway segments and said second arcuate pathway segment joining said second ends of said linear pathway segments, said first and second linear pathway segments and said first and second arcuate pathway segments cooperating to define a continuous inner pathway, said arcuate pathway segments being segments of a non-circular ellipse; an outer pathway surrounding said inner pathway with said outer pathway defined by a line traced by a point on a bin as said bin moves about said inner pathway; and bin support means for supporting each of said bins to move about said inner pathway and said outer pathway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said bin support means includes at least first and second attachment means for attaching a bin to said inner pathway, said outer pathway defined by a line traced by said point with said point disposed along a bisecting line extending between said first and second points of attachment, third attachment means disposed at said point for attaching said bin to said outer pathway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said arcuate pathway segments are half segments of said ellipse divided along a major axis of said ellipse. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A carrousel material handling apparatus comprising: a plurality of storage bins; first and second generally linear spaced apart pathway segments each extending between first and second ends, first and second arcuate pathway segments, said first arcuate pathway segment joining said first ends of said linear pathway segments and said second arcuate pathway segment joining said second ends of said linear pathway segments, said first and second linear pathway segments and said first and second arcuate pathway segments cooperation to define a continuous pathway, said arcuate pathway segments being half segments of a non-circular ellipse divided along a major axis of said ellipse; and bin support means for supporting each of said bins to move about said continuous pathway, said bin support means including at least first and second attachment means for attaching a bin to said pathway, said first and second attachment means including first and second attachment points each defined by a point where each of said first and second attachment means attaches said bin to said pathway with a distance between said first and second attachment points being equal for all bins and being equal to said major axis of said ellipse. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. An apparatus to claim 11 wherein said continuous pathway is an inner pathway, said apparatus further including an outer pathway surrounding said inner pathway with said outer pathway defined by a line traced by a point on a bin as said bin moves about said inner pathway, said bin support means further including third attachment means disposed at said point for attaching said bin to said outer pathway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said outer pathway is defined by a line traced by said point with said point disposed along a bisecting line extending between said first and second points of attachment. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. An apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising connecting means for hingedly connecting contiguous bins to define a continuous chain of hingedly connected bins disposed on said pathway, said connecting means including a plurality of hinge points connecting contiguous bins with a distance between hinge point being equal for all bins and being equal to said major axis of said ellipse, each of said hinge points defining a rotation axis passing through one of said first and second attachment points. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A carrousel material handling apparatus comprising: a plurality of storage bins; first and second generally linear spaced apart pathway segments each extending between first and second ends, first and second arcuate pathway segments, said first arcuate pathway segment joining said first ends of said linear pathway segments and said second arcuate pathway segment joining said second ends of said linear pathway segments, said first and second linear pathway segments and said first and second arcuate pathway segments cooperating to define a continuous inner pathway, said arcuate pathway segments being half segments of an non-circular ellipse divided along a major axis of said ellipse; an outer pathway including separate first and second arcuate outer segments with each of said first and second arcuate outer segments adjacent one of said first and second arcuate pathway segments of said inner pathway, and each of said first and second arcuate outer segments defined by a arcuate line traced by a point on a bin as said bin moves about each of said first and second arcuate pathway segments of said inner pathway; and bin support means for supporting each of said bins to move about said inner pathway, said bin support means including first and second caster wheels in rolling engagement with said inner pathway to move a bin about said inner pathway, with said first and second caster wheels located on said bin at a spaced apart distance equal to said major axis of said ellipse, said bin support means further including a third caster wheel in rolling engagement with said outer pathway, said third caster wheel cooperating with said first and second caster wheels to move said bin about said arcuate pathway segments of said inner pathway. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said outer pathway includes first and second linear outer segments, with each of said first and second linear outer segments defined by a line traced by a point of a bin as said bin moves about each of said first and second linear pathway segments of said inner pathway, said first and second linear outer segments joining said first and second arcuate outer segments to define a continuous outer pathway surrounding said inner pathway, said third caster wheel engageable with said first and second linear outer segments of said outer pathway. .Iaddend. 